Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-12-31
The Ci,y's Business of the Year.

Another year has closed aud the mer'
chants and business men are engaged IN set
Ting their accounts and looking over thei'
books to ascertain the advancement made
during the past twelve months. Throu2t'
out the year the talk of "hard times" has:
repeatedly been heard and tue amount OF
money in circulation has certainly been re-
duced, but the volume of business done beIe
has been equal 10 that of last year, for while
some branches have fallen off others have
gone ahead and he city is certainly none
the wo:sa eff 70: beibg year older.
A reporter of the GAZETTE from conversa'
lians had with large number OF merchants
gives t! following summary of what he as
| certained in relation to the progress of The
various branches Of business, during this as
compared with that of last year.
The forwarding and shipping business
shows falling off.
The ship-cbandlery business was about
he same "a the previous year.
The flour trsde has largely increased and
both the receipts and shipments show steady
advancement. This city now supplies all OF
his section OF country with -four.
The regular commission business has de.
creased for the reason that many farmers
and country merchants now sell directly to
dealers and don't send their grain TO mark et
10 be sold on commission.
The Wholesale grocery business has again
Increased largely and there eeenls to be
more enterprise and push in this brunch OF
trade than in any other. One merchant
who, as stated in the GAZETTE, last year,
said he intended making an effort todoubie
his business this year says he succeeded.
Alexandria now supplies large territory
with groceries. The retail grocery BUSINESS
| has been better than that OF last var and
the holiday trade very gratifying to the
dealers.
The fertilizer trade shows falling off, the
farmers buying smaller quantities. The
shipments have also fallen of, the mmufac
| turers in many places who formerly tistrib-
| u.ed their fertilizers for this city having
/ discontinued on account Ct the trade being
affected by the inter commerce oil.
The business in agricultural implements
was hardly so good as last year.
| The dry goods and notion trade keeps up
aud the business done both in wholesale
and retail, has been satisfactory to thedeal
| ers,
The tobacco business has been equally as
good as that of last yesr and the rGanltac-
lurers of cigars in the city are extending tier
| trade. The quality of the cigars made here
is excellent and this fact is recogniz4dby
all who deal in them.
The stove and tin dealers report having
| done isir business, many of lhe new houses
built having their roofs covered with tin
| and all Of them requiring new stoves and
| other articles in that line.
The boot and shoe dealers lave done a
| fair I'm 81 ii al--cartc inlv no fallinT off
The book and stationary dealers report
no increase in their business.
The jewellers all did better business than
last year end the stores show tley are keep
| lug up with the times Some Of them will
do credit TO cities much larger than Alex.
andIia.
1ns conf. c;ioners all did fair business
aad continue to extend their country trade.
The hardware dealers die equally as
| good, if net a better business than last
year.
The druggists trade and That OF paints
and oils has been fully as large as that of
last year.
The ice business, both whoiesale AMI re-
tail, Vas as good this as last year.
The wholesale liquor dealers say Gheir
business tbis year WAS about the SANE as
last. The retail trade has increased and
there are more persona engaged 10 the blsi'
& ess this than las: ear.
The lumber dealers have done larger
business, hut are selling OH smaller margins,
so their profits have been no more. Th,y
are determined not only TO hold what trale
they have, tut to extend it. Their saw AID
planning mills have been kept busy during
the entire year supplying the demands for
0ui ding material. This, OF course, has kept
large Number of men at constant work.
The brick business is on the increase, he
yards not only supplying the demands for
the large number OF houses erected in This
city. but also furnishing bricks 10 Washing
Ton and elsew here.
The builders were also kept busy during
the yesr at work on the large number of
houses erected here.
The insurance business increased with the
number of houses erected.
The retail coal and wood butiness has in
creased.
The mechanics have had work almos, the
entire year, and the machine shops have not
been buster for long time.
The hay and feed business was larger
than last year.
The manufacture and sale of mineral
waters has largely increased, and this city
now has a hourishiDg trade in this line.
The river trade has largely increased, and
the Alexandria merchants now do a good
business with the farmers and merchants Of
the lower country on both sides of the river.
The manufacture and sale of leather dur.
ing the year was fully equal to that of last.
The banks report having done q larger
volume of business this than last year, and
the banking business of the city is steadily
or the increase.
Items of Local Interests.
There are 1913 gas consumers as against
$50 last year. There are 175 street lamps
in The civ